John Paul M. Joaquin Tech 09.22.2023 02:Sep AM EDT

iPhone 15 Boxes Come With New UV Labels — What Are They For?

Apple added another way for customers to know if their iPhone 15 is authentic.

The tech giant has reportedly added UV labels to its iPhone 15 boxes to assure customers that their newly purchased device is authentic.

The iPhone 15 is now available for purchase to the public, with pre-ordered units also coming to those that did.

Apple Guaranteed

Apple's iPhones are the most popular smartphone in the US, and for good reason. Their user-friendly interface, coupled with their design, build quality, and Apple's continuous innovation are what make them popular.

However, getting one, even if it's the Special Edition model, could cost an arm and a leg, which makes faking them a lucrative business. For instance, the standard iPhone 15 model's price starts at $799, while its Pro Max model's price starts at $1199.

The boxes of the new iPhone 15 are equipped with a security system that displays holograms under a UV light. This is a measure introduced by Apple to recognize real boxes and prevent people from being scammed pic.twitter.com/oBhQoc5IDI
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) September 21, 2023

Good counterfeiters know how to create a quality fake and sell them to unsuspecting customers. However, Apple may be one step ahead of them now. According to a video published on Weibo and shared by Majin Bu on X.com (via 9to5Mac), iPhone 15 boxes in China come with labels and QR codes that only appear under UV light.

Majin Bu mentioned that these UV labels will help customers and even Apple identify whether an iPhone 15 box contains a genuine iPhone 15.

Unsurprisingly, Apple didn't mention the inclusion of UV labels on iPhone 15 boxes in its Sept. 12 "wanderlust" event for fear of counterfeiters and scammers copying it to make their items look authentic. While it is only a matter of time before they do, Apple has bought itself a few months or years to create another gimmick to determine an iPhone's authenticity.

It is unknown if Apple will add UV labels on the boxes of its other iPhone models to guarantee their authenticity in the foreseeable future. However, since not everyone has devices capable of emitting UV light, having these on the boxes of other iPhone models seems unlikely.

How To Determine an iPhone's Authenticity

Aside from the UV labels Apple added, there are other ways to determine an iPhone 15's authenticity. If you bought an iPhone from someone else or an unknown store, you can check the iPhone IMEI number or have its serial number checked using Apple's support website, per Live Mint.

To find your iPhone's IMEI number, go to Settings on your iPhone, tap on General, and then go to the About section. Scrolling down the list will reveal your iPhone's IMEI number; your iPhone is fake if you don't see one.

Alternatively, you can check your iPhone's IMEI number and the one displayed on the iPhone's box. If the IMEI numbers don't match, then your iPhone is a fake or it was sold in the wrong box, per iGeeks Blog.

You can also go to https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ to check the validity of your iPhone via its serial number. If there is no information available once you enter your iPhone's serial number, then the phone is most probably a fake.